Receiving device for intermittent inductive train-control systems



1,733,982 RECEIVINGDEVICE FOR 'INTERMITTENI INDUCTIVE TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS Oct. 29, 1929. c. s. BUSHNELL,

Filed Jan. 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet c. s. BUSHNELL 1,733,982

RECEIVING DEVICE FOR' INTERMITTENT INDUCTIVE TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS Oct. 29,1929.

Filed Jan. 9, 1926 2 Shets-Sheet 2 I T INV NTOR.

Patented Get. 29, 1929 entree stares earner orricr'.

CHARLES s. BUsHNELnor nooHns'r-nn, new roan, essrsnoia To GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, or nocnnsrnn, new YORK RECEIVING DEVICE FOR INTEBMITTE'FI'I INDUCTIVE TRAIN-CONTROL -Application filed Januar e, 1826. Serial No. 80,239.

This invention relates to automatic train control and more particularly concerns a carcarried impulse receiving means for a train control system of the intermittent inductive 5 type.

In one type of intermittent inductive train control system, influences corresponding to tratfic conditions are transmitted to a moving vehicle at spaced points along the.trackway by means of the change of flux in the magneticcircuit of a receiver carried on the veh cle, when this circuit 1s broiwht into close proximity with a magnetic body located on v,

the trackway. The influence thus received is transmitted to the vehicle control apparatus by means of voltages induced in a suitable coil or coils linking the magnetic circuitof the receiver, the flux in this circuit being supplied bythe same or another coil or coils, energized from a suitable car-carried source.

The receiver mu'stnecessarily be located at a point on the vehicle which is close to the road bed, so that the air gap through which the flux must passm'ay be of minimum length. It is desirable that the losses due to eddy cur rents in the magnetic stru'cture and in the receiver housing be reduced to a minimum. It is essential that the receiver be securely mounted, so that any variation of the air gap during operation be a minimum. An intermit tentreceiver of this type is subject. to con siderable vibration and shock, and for this reason the coils and the core construction of the receiver must be very rugged, and the electrr cal connections to the coils must be suitably,

protected. V v

\Vith the above and other considerations in mind, it is proposed in accordance with the erence will be made toithe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 1s a side view of the recelver with a portion of the casing broken away, showing the interior construction thereof Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe receiver, a por tion of the casing being broken'away Fig. 3 is an end view of the spool for supporting the coils of thereceiverz Fig. 4C is a side view of the spool shown in Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Fig. l. and viewed in the'direction of the arrows. j M j Q Fig. 6 is an end 'viewofthe receiver of the present invention serured to the truckframe" ofa railway vehicle."

Fig. 7 is a side View ofthe receiver, together wvith means for supporting it on a railway vehicle;

Fig. 8 isa SlClQ'VlQW of the core structure of the receiver; and

Fig. 9 is a sectlon taken on the line i of Fig. 8 andviewed in the direction of the arrows. v i

Referring to the drawings, the receiver of thepresent invention comprises in general a laminated iron core C of inverted U-shape,

carrying coils 1 on the depending legs thereof,

this coil and core structure being enclosed and supported in a suitable housing or casing H. The casing H is preferably constructed in one piece-of some suitable non-magnetic material of proper mechanical;strength,such

as phosphor bronze or brass. The casing comprisesv a substantially cylindrical hollow portion of inverted U-shapeas shown, the,

walls of the depending hollow legs beingv connected by webs or walls 2 and-3, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. Thelower ends of the depending legs of the casing H are provided with integral rectangular flanges 4 as shown, and narrow outwardly projecting flanges 5 and 6 are provided on the lower edges of the webs Qand 3 respectively, thread ed openings 7 being provided in these flanges.

An integral pocket '8 is provided in'the outer face of the back yoke portion of the casing H forming an integral junction box 1 for enclosing the connections of the conductors leading into the casing. A suitable block 9 of insulating material carrying terminal clamps 10 is secured within the pocket 8, and a cover 11 is clamped to the outer face of the pocket by the machine screws 12, a suitable gasket 13 being preferably employed to insure a weather-tight closure. The upper face of the casing is provided with a screw threaded opening over the pocket 8, in which is secured the end of a short length of conduit 14.

This conduit is secured to a conduit connector or union 15, which in turn is secured to a conduit 16 leading to suitable car-carried control means. A suitable clamp 17 is provided tosupport the conduit 16.

The rear face of the housing H is provided with an upwardly extending integral supporting plate 18. This plate has two vertically elongated slots 19 therein, and is provided with integral teeth 20 on its inner face as shown. An integral bracket 21 is provided on the outer face of the plate 18, extending over the top of the casing H at the center thereof, a screw threaded opening 22 being provided near the end of this bracket as shown.

Referring now more particularly to the core structure employed in the receiver of the present invention, which is most clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9, this core is composed of laminated magnetic material such as silicon steel. The laminae used for the central portion 23 ofthe core are substantially uniform in the back yoke and leg portions thereof, whereas the width of the laminae 24 used in the side portions of the core is substantially less along the leg portions than along the back yoke portions thereof. The laminae of the various widths are stacked in the manner shown in Fig. 9 to produce a core having leg portions which are substantially cruciform in cross section, this construction being used in order that the core may more nearly conform to the circular inner bore of the coil structure used, than, would be the case if the leg portions were of rectangular cross-section. The laminae used in forming the core. C are preferably stamped and stacked in such a manner. that they overlap at the center of the back yoke portion as shown'in Fig. 8. In other words, each separate lamina comprises a little more than one-half of the entire length of the back yoke portion'and one leg portion. Side plates 25 are provided on the core C being of slightly greater thickness than the laminae used in forming the main body of the core, and the entire core structure is rigidly secured together by means of the rivets 26. Two circular openings 27 are formed in the upper surface of the back yoke portion near its ends, as shown, and two screw threaded openings 28 are provided in the lower faces of the leg portions of the core, the ope gs 27 and 28 being parallel and being aligned in a vertical plane through the center of the core.

Suitable pole pieces 30 of magnetic material are secured to the lower faces of the depending legs of the casing H by means of the bolts 29 passing through these pole pieces and through the flanges 4. The bolts 29 are insulated from the flanges 4 and the pole pieces 30 are insulated from the'casing by means of shellac or other suitable insulating substance. This insulation is provided in order that eddy currents resulting from rapid changes in flux through the core C may not flow in a closed path through the pole pieces 30 and the legs of the casing H. The pole pieces are provided with slots 31 and 32 extending from opposite edges thereof toward the center as most clearly shown in Fig. 1. These slots prevent the flow of eddy currents in closed paths around the pole pieces 30. A suitable plate of non-magneticor insulating material is secured to the lower face of the flanges 5 and 6 by means of the screws 34. It should be noted that the screws 34 and the bolts 29, have their heads counter-sunk in the plate 33 and the pole pieces 30, so that the lower face of the receiver is a plane and uninterrupted surface.

The core structure C is secured within the casing H by means of the screws 35 which clamp the ends of the depending legs of the core structure to the pole pieces 30. The core structureC is rigidly held in proper alignment within the casing by means of the set screws 36 passing through the upper wall of the casing and being provided with pins or extensions 37 on the lower ends thereof which engage the holes 27 in the back yoke portion of the core structure C. A washer 38 is preferably provided to distribute the pressure exerted by the set screws 36 over the laminae of the core structure C and thereby prevent the bending or distortion of these laminae. The set screws 36 are provided with lock nuts 39 as shown.

In order that the coils 1 may be rigidly supported and suitably protected. suitable spools S are provided on the legs of the core structure U, these spools being shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. The spools are preferably made of a light non-magnetic metal,

such as aluminum, and are secured within the casing H on the legs of the core G as shown in Fig. 1. Each spool S is provided with a flanged end 40 at its upper extremity, this flanged end having an enlarged portion 41 provided with an opening 42 for the reception of a small plug 43 constructed of steel or other suitable material. tremity of each of the spools S is provided with a circular flange 44, a second flange 45, arranged at an angle to the axis of the spool, being connected to the flange 44 by the integral webs 46. The angle between the flange 7 The lower ex- 7 and the axis of the spool S is so arranged that the face of the flange 45 is parallel with the pole piece 30 when the spool S: is. mounted on the core. C. A set screw t? is provided in the upper wall of the. casing H over each of the spools S, and is arranged to engage the plug 43 in the enlarged portion 41 of the spool and thereby to force the spool into and rigid engagement with the pole piece, 80. The set screw l'Z is held in-itsadjusted post tion by means of a lock nut. i8 As the impulse transmittcd'to: the receiver from the trackway device is of short duration, and produces a, change-of flux in the core Cl which is: substantially equivalent to that which would be produced by a single cycle of alternating current, the spoolsv S would tend to have a, choking effect upon this change of flux if'they completed a circuit about the core G.,;Eor this reason, a longitudinal slot 49 isprovided in each of the spools S, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3, in order that an electrical circuit, linking the core C, may not be completed through the spools.

The prevention of eddy current losses in a receiver of the type described is an important factor and in this connection it should be noted that the casing H is so designed as to prevent the flow of eddy currents therein. Thefwebs or walls 2 and 3, connecting the walls of the leg portions of the, casing form a complete closed housing without completing closed electrical-paths. linking the magnetic circuit of the recelver and eddy current flow in the casing is thereby substantially eliminated.

The coils 1 are tightly wound on the spools S and are. suitably msulated theretrom by means of linen tape, horn fibre, or other suit-.

able insulating material represented at. 50 in L An insulating. sleeve 51 is passed around the-outside'of each of the coilsito protect these coils from contact with the inne-r walls of the casingH. After the coils has. been shown, together with the journal box 53 held in the truck frame .54 thereof. The journal box. 53 is ordinarily secured to the truck. frame 54L by means of the vertical bolts 55 as shown. 1

In attaching the receiver to the vehicle, two heavy straps or supports 56 and 57 of shitable metalsuoh as steel, are secured to the truck from above and below the journal box 53 by bolts 55 as shown. The straps 56 and 57 are bent or shaped with their free ends parallel and a supporting'block-or adapter substantially rectangular hollow block pro-.

vided with suitable strengthening ribs and having integral teeth 60 on the outer face thereof as shown in Fig. 7 Two vertically elongated slots are provided in the front. wall of the adapter 58, being spaced to co-operate with the slots 19 in the supporting plate 18 of the receiver. An angle bracket 61 is se cured by a bolt 62 in a slot formd in the upper front face of the adapter 58, the free end of this bracket 61 extending outwardly from the adapter and being provided with a vertical opening therethrough.

In practice, the adapter 58 is bolted between the straps 5.6 and 57 and the receiver is placed with its supporting plate 18 adj acent to the front face of the adapter 58. A bolt 63 is then passed through the opening in the angle bracket 61 andis threaded into the opening 22 in the bracket 21 on'the receiver, these brackets being arrangd to be disposed with the openings therein in vertical alignment when the receiver is in place on the adapter. iently raised or lowered by turning the bolt 62 until the proper vertical position is established when the bolt 63 is locked inplace by a lock nut 6.4. The receiver is now firmly and rigidly clamped to the adapter 58 by means of the. bolts 65 passing'through the slots in a the receiver and the adapter, the teeth 60 and 20 serving to maintain these membersin fixed relation to each other against slippage due to the. vibration of the vehicle. 1

Although only one type of supporting means has been shown and described, it should be understood that many'other forms of supports might be used, the arrangement of such supports being designed to conform with the different types of truck frames and journal boxes encountered in practice.

From the description given, it should be noted that avery simple and rugged construction of receiver has-been provided,hav ing a magnetic circuit of low reluctance due to the insulation and slotting of the pole piecesand the spools S which carry the coils 1, as well as to the design of the casing H.

The receiver may now be conven- The spools S are of particular, advantage when used in connection with a receiver of this type, as these spools permit the coils 1 to be quicklyand accurately wound and also as the spools protect the. coils against pos-.

sible vibrationand wear when in use on a railway vehlcle. j

As the receiver of the present invention has been described in connection with a rather specific device, it should be under stood that certain modifications, change and additions in the construction thereof may having a radial slot extending the entire be made without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control system comprising, a nonmagnetic casing, a substantially U-shaped core of magnetic material rigidly clamped within said casing, and means integral with said casing for adjustably and rigidly securing said device to a railway vehicle.

2. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising, a

non-magnetic metallic casing, a substantially,

U-shaped magnetic core clamped within said casing and a winding rigidly supported on said core by adjustable means carried by the casing.

3. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising, a non-magnetic casing, a substantially U shaped laminated core of magnetic material supported within said casing, coils adj ustably supported on said core and a junction box adjacent said coils and integral with said casing.

4. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising, a non-magnetic casing having depending legs, a magnetic core mounted within said casing, a coil on said core within each of said depending legs, an upwardly extending supporting plate integral with sald casing, and means on said plate for permitting said device to be rigidly and adjustably secured to a support.

5. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising, a non-magnetic casing, a substantially U- shaped core of magnetic material mounted within said casing, a spool fixed on each of the depending legs of said core, and a coil Wound on each of said spools.

6. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising a non-magnetic casing, a substantially U- shaped core of magnetic material mounted within said casing, a spool having a slot therein supported on said core and a coil on said spool.

7 A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising, a substantially U-shaped core of magnetic material, metallic spools having longitudinal slots therein and mounted on each leg of said core, and a coil wound on each spool.

8. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising, a

non-magnetic casing having depending hollow legs, a substantially U-shaped magnetic core fixed within said casing and extending within said legs, a non magnetic metallic spool'mounted on each leg of said core and length thereof, and a coil wound on each of said spools.

9. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising a non-magnetic metallic casing having an enlarged hollow portion of inverted U-shape, pole pieces having slots therein secured to the ends of said enlarged hollow portion, a U-shaped core of magnetic material secured to said pole pieces within said casing, and a coil on said core.

'10. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising a nonmagnetic metallic casing having an enlarged hollow portion of inverted U-shape, pole pieces having slots therein secured to and insulated from said casing at the ends of said U-shaped hollow portion, a U-shaped core of magnetic material secured to said pole pieces within said casing, a spool having a slot therein on said core, and a coil wound on said spool.

11. A receiving device for inductive automatic train control systems comprising a non-magnetic metallic casing, a magnetic core carrying a coil mounted within said casing, a junction box integral with said casing, an upwardly extending supporting plate integral with said casing, a bracket on said plate for permitting vertical adjustment of said receiving device, and means on said plate for permitting said device to be rigidly clamped in its adjusted position.

12. In combination with a railway vehicle having a truck frame secured to a journal box, a receiving device for'inductive automatic train control systems comprising a magnetic core having a coil thereon and mounted within a non-magnetic casing, an integral supporting plate on said casing, an adapter secured to said truck frame adjacent said journal box and means on said plate and on said adapter for permitting vertical adjustment between said receiving device and said railway vehicle.

13. In combination with a railway vehicle having a truck frame and a journal box secured thereto, a receiving device for automatic train control systems comprising a magnetic core having a coil thereon and secured Within a non-magnetic casing, and means for adj ustably securing said receiving device to said vehicle comprising, an upwardly extending integral supporting plate;

on said casing, an adapter secured to said truck frame and said journal box, means comprising angle brackets extending from said adapter and said supporting plate respectively and connected by a bolt for per-' mitting the vertical adjustment of said re ceiving device relative to said vehicle, and cooperating means on said adapter and said supporting plate for permitting said receiving device to be rigidly clamped in its adjusted position.

14. In a receiver, a casing, a core and coil structure in the casing, a support plate'on the casing having a toothed rear surface, a correspondingly toothed member carried by i a railway vehicle, bolt and slot means for 1 rigidly clamping the two toothed parts in adjusted position, and a positioning bolt passing through aligned brackets on the sup- I port plate and toothed member for bringing the casing to the desired adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature.

CHARLES S. BUSHNELL. 

